POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 290, 2 September 1933, Page 24

POULTRY NOTES

Cannibalism Among Chickens

HOW TO REMOVE THE CAUSE

(By

“New Laid.”)

f' Cannibalism among chickens is one of the troubles which causes heavy losses ou some farms each year, and even where the rate of mortality is not high the vice causes a great deal of anxiety and extra work.

-The term cannibalism covers all cases where chickens show a craving for blood by pecking one another, whether on the toes, wings, tail or other part of the.body. Once blood appears, the chicks mercilessly attack their victims and if not prevented will continue until they kill them. lln most cases, says a New South ,Wales poultry expert, dealing with this problem, it is possible to overcome the ijtfouble, by studying the conditions to ascertain 1 the cause or causes of an outibreak of cannibalism. There are many factors which have to be taken into account in dealing with this problem, but generally investigation can be narrowed down to several main causes, as, for instance, insufficient salt in the ration, overcrowding; too little trough or hopper .accommodation causing congestion when feeding, and .too close . confinement. In some instances chickens crowding into a ray of sunlight leads to toe or feather picking oh account of the sunlight showing up the blood, particularly in the feather quills at certain stages of feather■ing; ■ ’ . / • ,

An excess of concentrates in the ration may be responsible-in other cases for this craving for blood, and, on the other hand, a deficiency of minerals and mineral salts such as those contined in bone meal, shell grit, - green feed. and milk or milk products may also be a contributing factor. In battery brooders particularly, but also in other types, where chickens are kept confined, lack of fresh air also appears to be conducive to an outbreak of cannibalism; : s .

: The first step in dealing with this vice’ is to remove'any chicks 'which'show signs of being attacked and lightly paint the part which has been picked with Stockholm tar. This should be follower! by an investigation into the feeding methods, to ascertain whether there is any deficiency in the ration, particularly as regards salt. Where wet mash is used, eyeu if an ounce of salt to,each 51b of mash is being given, the quantity may be'increased by using an ounce to 41b for a time, to see if this will .overcome the trouble.. In cases where dry mash is fed it would not be safe to give the same quantity, but , the amount could temporarily be increased to-three-quarters of that mentioned for a wet mash. x ' r It is a good plan to reduce the number of chicks in the brooders even if they are not overcrowded, and where possible give them a' grassy run. Failing this a few pieces of grassy, turf placed in the run to keep the chickens busy is sometimes effective. . Treatment of Coms.

S. "Tenderfoot.”— Fainting with iodine is the recognised treatment for corns. Another treatment is to dissolve a piece of bluestone about the size of a walnut in a pint of hot wa'ter, and when the solution is cool dip the affected foot into it, re-peating-this daily for a week or more, Borne poultry-keepers lance the foot immediately a corn is detected, but this is not a sound practice., The corn should not be interfered with until it has reached a perfectly, ripe condition, when it will probably appear between the toes as well as on the ball of the: foot. From these places the pus can be picked out with a penknife, following'which a few drops of peroxide of hydrogen should be dropped on the affected parts. The foot should b° kept soft with vaseline, and the wound should be bandaged so as to keep it clean. The bird must not be allowed to perch, and should be. provided with soft bedding until the foot is well. Flying down from a high perch on to a hard floor is a common cause of corns. The perches should not be higher than, 18 inches from the floor, and the floor ghould be covered with straw or litter. Running on stony or hard yards will also cause corns. '

Popular Breeds. ? : The'following table covering the first and the last ten years currency of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College egglaying competition, New South Wales, indicates at a glance the rise and fall in the estimation of commercial poultry farmers of various breeds and varieties which have practically all, at some period, been extolled as great layers:— - First Last 10 years 10 years - . ' ’ (1002-13), (1023-33), 4022 Birds 53(1(1 Birds Tested. Tested. White Leghorns (single comb) 1212 3430. Black Orpingtons 786 1328 Silver Wyandottes .... 048 12 Buff Orpingtons 204 Nil. Langshans 150 444 Brown Leghorns (single , cdmb) ............ 132 24 Mlnbrcas ........... 120 18 White Wyandottes .... 120 Nil Gold Wyandottes, 00 Nil Buff Leghorns ........ 84, 0 Andalusians 80 Nil Buff Wyandottes 54 Nil / White Leghorns (rose ’ comb) 48 Nil Brown Leghorns (rose comb 42 Nil Plymouth Rocks (barred! 30 30 In addition to the 15 breeds and varieties enumerated, 16 others, according to Mr. Jas. Hadlington competed during the first period, but in. small numbers. These comprised 36 White Orpingtons, 30 Auconas, 24 each of Black Hamburghs, Cuckoo Leghorns and Imperials, 18 Partridge Wyandottes, 12 each 'of Jubilee Orpingtons, Faverolles, and Rhode Island Beds, and six each of White Plymouth Rocks, Houdans, Campines, Black Leghorns, Birrilees, Pile Leghorns, and Old English Game. ■ ■ k. \ '■ ; < - Of the 31 breeds and varieties competing during the first decade 20 have entirely disappeared ■ from the competition in the last ten years, and most of them during the first part of the first period. In the' last decade only two breeds have come into the competitions that were absent in the first ten years, and these only in small numbers; these are, 24 Columbian Wyandottes and six Light Sussex. The most noteworthy disappearance is that of Silver Wyandottes, the once popular farmer’s fowl, and with the third highest number in the competitions during the first period. Another is the Buff Orpington, which came fourth during the same years. Chicks Dead in Shell. At the height of the hatching season there are invariably numerous cases of chicks found dead in the shell, and the following comment by the New South Wales poultry expert is of interest at the moment "The cause of dead-in-the-shell is often discussed, and, in many cases, all manner of causes except the right ones are suspected. Certainly it is often difficult to arrive at an exact solution of the trouble, but a few common causes may be given which should bo considered when an undue percentage of ‘dead embryos’ is experienced. It must be understood, however, that some dead-in-shell is inevitable, because there are always weaklings before as well as after hatching. If the incubator has been run properly and no experimentation has been indulged in, other causes may be looked for. “One of the first matters to consider is the condition of the breeding stock — whether they are physically sound and in good condition or whether the male bird is getting light or is infested with vermin. It frequently happens that the male bird allowed the hen to get most of the food, and, of course, becomes poor. For this reason it is a good plan to give him a feed by himself in the middle of the day. The feeding of the birds is also often responsible for the trouble insofar as they might be over-stimulated by getting too much protein or condiments. Again, they might be surfeited with food or the reverse may be the case. Careful feeding is essential to secure the best results in hatching, and (he effects of faulty feeding may lie noticeable for some months: therefore, the method of feeding in vogue long before the eggs are laid must bo taken into consideration. Another important factor is the age of the

eggs. The older the eggs are (over one week) the-fewer the chances of a good hatch,.especially when the eggs are set in an incubator. A prevalent idea is that a lack of moisture is the cause of dead-in-the-shell because of the dryness of the shell membrane and parts of. the shell sticking to the chickens; but these conditions usually accompany a bad hatch, and no amount of moisture would make any difference in such cases.” Kerosene and Scaly Leg. 1

Although kerosene is one of the most useful articles in the poultry yard, it should not,' according to the “Sydney Morning Herald,” be used for painting the legs of birds suffering from scaly leg. If after the painting of the legs of birds with kerosene they are noticed to be going lame or down on the legs, scalding above the hock joint should be suspected. If the kerosene did not get above the hock joint on to the skin all would be well, but owing to the nature of the oil' it is difficult to prevent it, because it will spread up a 6 well as down. The best material of this nature to use for scaly leg is crude petroleum, the thick greenish-bjack residual oil commonly used for preserving wood from white ants. This material, however, should be entirely free from added chemicals sucb>as arsenic..

Egg-Eating Champion. If the public in general could show anything approaching the from produced .by the placid competitors in a recent eggeating competition in Glasgow the poultry industry would be a veritable gold mine. The following is taken-from “The Poultry World,” England :—“Mr. Samuel Bldwman, egg-eating champion of the world, lost his title by one egg to a fellowstudent, Mr. A. 8. Windle, in a contest m Glasgow University Union. The winner revealed a quiet relish for eggs which .was wholly unsuspected, and slowly but surely ate 32 eggs in one hour and ten minutes after the champion had accounted for 31 at a hungrier speed. Another Contestant, Mr. A. G. Lutton, ate 24 eggs. .. Value of Green Food.

Apart from the many good health reasons, why green stuff should be fed, it is economical, ilt adds bulk to the fation. and among its other virtues it acts as a tonic, aids, digestions, furnishes vitamins, and kf?eps the digestion tract in a healthy condition. x If the poultryman takes care to see that ho has his green food plot thoroughly prepared he should have green stuff all the year round. If he can, get a;stand of lucerne he is in an enviable position, but in any case lie should have a rotation of crops so that when one is worked oiit another can be need. No poultryman'can afford to be without green stuff.

New Use for Eggs: _ ’ A new-laid egg provides, it is claimed, the most rapid and pure source of vaccine against smallpox. This discovery has, saJ’s an overseas exchange, been made by Professor. E. Paschen. of the Hamburg Institute of Trbpical Diseases. Eminent authorities believe that it may entirely eliminate the rare complication of post-vaccinal encephalitis, which in irecent years has been regarded’in some quarters as an argument against vaccination.

Milk in the Daily Ration.

Milk is a most complete food. It is easily digested, and greatly appreciated by both chickens and adult birds. Many breeders commence feeding chickens on milk as soon as they are 48 hours old, ,but it is suggested that the better plan is to wait till they are five or six days old. Dealing with this subject, the “Farmer and Stock-breeder”. (England) remarks: “If poultry-keepers could be certain of obtaining a definite quantity of milk at all seasons of the year, it might easily take .the place of auimal protein in the ration. It has been proved that milk in the diet of breeding stock has a tendency to improve fertility and hatchabihty, and it should not be impossible to allot a percentage of any surplus to the breeding hens during the months when eggs are needed for incubation. Unlimited quantitiese of milk, either sour’or sweet, can be used in the daily ration of all laying stock, and when fed at the rate of from four to five gallons per hundred birds daily, there is, no need to add any other source of protein to the ration. . Sour skim'milk is of more value than the sweet skim milk —an advantage when one realises the difficulties of keeping milk sweet •in summer, It has a tendency to make the fowls rather laxative, but. I have not noticed any ill results. If new milk were used it would be necessary to add about 50 per cent, of water. ; < “In rearing, skim or separated milk should be used, whenever available, in the daily ration of chicks. Sour skim, fresh buttermilk, new milk, and fresh separated milk are all valuable in their place, lu an experiment in Northern Ireland, Dr. Scott Robertson found that, by adding milk to a ration of mixed . cereals, growth rate was doubled. He also found that separated milk was as good for the purpose as' whole milk. “Jlilk can be fed in various ways. It can be given in liquid form, or it can be mixed With the mash and fed in the form of wet mash. Dry mash feeding is practised more than wet in these days, so that it seems opportune for one to use it in liquid form. Vessels used for the purpose should be open so as to be easily cleansed.”

Even when milk is always available to the birds they should also have water in plenty in separate receptacles, so that they will not be compelled to drink a large quantity of milk merely, to quench their thirst. . . • ; , General Notes. , / - .

Now that the sun is gaining strength, particular care should be taken to see that all vessels containing drinking water are in a shady place. Sun-heated drinking water causes more sickness in poultry than is generally realised.

Great care is necessary when using sodium fluoride or nicotine powder for the destruction of parasites' on birds. They are. both' poisonous—sodium fluoride particularly so—and they should never be used on baby chickens.

Spraying the houses and painting the perches will rid poultry of many pests, but these measures will not rid the birds of head lice. The head louse passes the "whole cycle of its life on the birds and lias to be attacked on its own ground. The most effective treatment is to smear olive oil on the head and a little way down the neck of the birds, repeating weekly-for a while in bad cases until the pest is under control. In the case of chickens the oil should be applied very lightly. s -

A total of 9,492,480 eggs was exported from Finland during April, compared with 6,001,920 eggs for the same month last year. Great Britain bought 72 per cent.

_ A good pick-me-up for birds that show signs of going off, possibly as a result of a heavy season in the show pen, is twodrops of tincture of iodine, given in a teaspoonful of milk, says the “Austrn. Insian Poultry World.” This treatment according to the authority quoted will often work wonders with a bird that otherwise appears off-colour.

If the error of overcrowding were nlore generally recognised there would be far less mortality among young chickens, states the New South Wales poultry expert. Most of the chicken troubles are either directly or indirectly caused by the chickens crowding to get warm. This lends to sweating, which, in turn, causes chills, followed by sickness probably two or three days afterward. It is better to err on the side of keeping the temperature a little too high than too low, provided more ventilation is allowed and the chickens are free to move away from the heat. It must be borne in mind, however, that to maintain a high tempera-

ture without adequate ventilation is as bad as a temperature that is too jow.

The age for pullets coming'into production varies, considerably with the breeds, but under correct'feeding, not forcing, one can expect eggs from the light breeds 'at six months, and from the heavy breeds a month or six weeks later than this, as they take longer to mature. It >is, however, a grievous mistake to force growing pullets into early production; it not only spoils the stamina of the bird, but also often has a bad effect on egg size. Let development come first, and laying afterward.

EGG-LAYING CONTESTS

Massey College Competition The 21st week’s results' of the Massey College Egg-Laying Competition are as follow:— 1 » SINGLE PENS. . . Section B.—Mrs. Dimant, 8.0., 3—77; T. Douthwaite, 8.0., No, 1, 4—103, No. 2, 4—114; A. G. Frnnlfham, 8.0., s—Mrs. Hellaby, 8.0., No. 1, s—llo, No. 2, 6—78; Larsen Bros., B.CM, N0.1,’4 —124, No. 2, 0—46, No. 3, 5—100;, Mrs. Scarrott; 8.0 , No. 1, s—S3,' No. 2, 6—114; Mrs. Waddell, 8.0., No. 1,6—106 x; No. 2,2—102 x; W. E. Watson, 8.0.,' 2—07; Mrs. Davey, L.S., 7—65 x; Mrs. Youngson; Bk.W., I—72x; K. Mouldey, R.1.R.. 4—S3. Section A.—Chas! Barker, W.L., No. 1, 4— 106, No. 2,4 —57 x; A. Strawbridge, W.L., 5— 56; Mrs. Cannon. W.L.‘, 6—400; G. 11. Cross, W.L.. 4—54; E. M. Galvin. W.L., No. 1,4—105 x, No. 2,5—114 x, No. 3. 3-36; J. T. Hazelwood,\W.L., No. 1, 5—107. No. 2, 3—102; Mrs. HMlaby, W.L., 6-115; Mrs. Dimant, W.L., 5—53; J. Ibbotson, W.L., 5—87; W. J. McAloori, W.L., 6—79; D. Kruse, Anc. No. 1, 6—91, No. 2,‘ 6 —B6x; Miss Mitchell, W.L., 3—111; A. G, Mumby, W.L., No. 1, 6—105, No. 2, 1—02; Mrs, Stewart, W.L., No. 1, 6—98, No. 2, 5—121; A. Strawbridge, W.L.. No. 2, s—Bl, No. 3, 1-44; W. H. Barker, W.L., Nq. 1, 4—68, No. 2,4—75 x, No. 3, 4—66; J. Smith, -Anc., No. 1. 5—60, No, 2, 3—38; W. F. Stent, Min., No.-- 1, 5—32, No. 2, 6—35; A. R. Watson, Br.L., No. 1, 4—87, No. 2, 2—sGx; Mrs. Youngson, Bk. L.. 2—73. TEAM RESULTS. Section D. (All B.O.).

M. L. Boyce, 08, 108, 120 x, 56, 98, 91, (22), 551. Mrs. Hellaby, 26, 67, 95, 43, 70. 111, (21), 412. Larsen Bros., 66x, 55x, 74, 52x, 60, 70, (30), 377. Mrs. Warren, 40, 38x, 71x, 70, 51, 25; (9), 304. . Mrs. Scarrott, 35, 30, 33x, 54, 37, 47 (17) 236. Section C. F. S. Alien, W.L., 94, 70x, 106, 105, 07J. I'l4x (23), 556. P. B. Harrison, W.L., 117 x, 93, 109. 83, 85, 61 (25), 556. \ Mrs. G. Hillman, W.L., 80, 82, 79, 88x, 90, 108 x, (19), 527. E. B. Wainscott, W.L., 85x, 99, 99, 59, GOx, 89 (22), 491. ' H. A. Lucas, W.L., 95, 81. 100, 99, 27, 76 (20), 478. ■ . ■ Mrs. Hellaby, W.L., 58, 65, 78, 102. 109 x, 37d, (21), 449. F. T. Wimble, W.L., 43, 88, 63, 47, 84, 105, (27), 430. j, T. Hazelwood, W.L., 56x, 72, 49, 59, 94x, 78 (29), 408. Miss Mitchell, W.L., 81, 82, 51, 71, 49, 71, (15), 408. A. G. Mumby, W.L., 75, 66x, 54, 75, 62, 66 (17), 305. S. D. Morris, W.L., 50x, 74, lOd, 73, 43d, 88 (10), 347. A". Strawbridge, W.L., 42, 81, 88, 45d, 34x, 57 (20), 347. W. G. King, W.L., 46x, 55, 29, 39x, 01, 50 (5), 280. G. K. Manning, W.L., 25x, 49, 20, 57, 26, 40x (17), 223. W. F, Stent, Mln., 41, 1, 17, 59x, 34 05 (18). 223. x Disqualified egg weight clause. d Dead bird.

TARANAKI COMPETITION

The results of the 22nd week (ending August 30) of the Taranaki Egg-laying Competition Society's.sixth contest are:— White’ Leghorns.—H. Moreland: No. 1, 5— No? 2, 5—106; No. 3. 5—69. G. L. Gaylard: No. 1, 1—45; No. 2, 6-4)5; No. 3, 6— M, Loveridge: No. 1, 6—58; No. 2, 6—119; No. 3, 6—74. Gibbons Bros.:-No. 1, 4— No. 2. 6—08: No. 3. 5-78/- Mrs. R. R. Cannon: No. 1. 6—122; No. 2, 5—88; No. 3, 5—19. A. J. Cadman: No. 1. 6—125; No. 2. 5-105: No. 3, 5-102. A. V. Hop. kins: No. 1," No. 2, 0—22; No. 3, :6—112. S.- Pope: ' 6—112. W.- CrOmpton: 6—37. J. Meuli; 2—79. T. Bruce: (5—113. Miss E. Ladd: 7—148. .Brown’ Leghorn's.—Mrs. A. J. Hopcroft: 6— . - - Minorcas.—C. Strang: 3—42. J. T. Brice: 5— Miss D. Swadllng; Nor- 1, 5—53; No. 2/3—22; No! 3, 4—65. Anconas.—A.-J, Bloomfield: 5—109. T. J. Bates: 5—84. ■ : Wyandottes.—Thos.. Dowthwaite: No. 1, 7— No. 2, -5—115. ;’ y ’> - -■ ' Light Sussex.—D. J. Prestidge: ‘—B9. T. J. Bates: s—Bo. Mrs. R. R. Cannon: 6— Blaek Orpingtons.—Mrs. S. Paterson: No. 1. 6—123; No. 2, -5-89; No. 3, 4—4)9. Mrs. F. A. Warren; No. 1, 5—111: No. 2, 6—115; No. 3, 5—85., H. W. Smith: No. 1, 6—131; No. 2, 7—116; No. 3, 4—75. Larsen Bros.: No. 1. 6—133; No; 2. 5—97: No. 3, 6—92. Mrs; D. M. Waddell: No. 1. 6—117; No. 2, 7—155;'N0. 3, 5—139. Miss D. Swadling: 5—114. G. L. Gaylard: 5—128. Mrs. V. L, Gane: s—lol. E. J. Poswlllo' 4—75. E. R. Marshall: 6—143. Ducks.—Fawn and White Runners —Mrs F. A. Warren: No. 1. 2—30; No. 2, 6—77; No. 3. 6—89. Thos. Dowthwaite: No. Im, 0—52; No, 2, 7—150. Mrs. V. L. Gane: o—so. T. J. Bates: 5—36. White Runners—H. G. Emeny: 6-36. K. Mouldey: 6—9. Stan. Beauschamp: 5 —40. Fawn Runners.—Stan.- Beauschamp: 64-08. ' - i- , '■. ' Khaki Campbell.—T. J. Bates: 5—37. H. G. E'meny: 4—109. - W. Rowlands; o—7B. Peking.—H. G. Emeny: 6—29. H. A. Lucas: No. T, 6—46; No. 2, 5—5. THREE-BIRD TEAMS.' Light Breed. ■ ■_ r Total,

DUCKS. Mrs. F. A. Warren, FIR. 2 6 6 14 195 M., Minorca; W.L.. White Leghorns; •signifies bird dead; m, moulting. A decaying egg should be removed from the incubator as soon as it is discovered, as it contaminates the egg chamber. • '• » Duck eggs that have not been washed will keep for a longer period than those which have been so treated. Where only good offals, such as bran and pollard and meat meal, are fed. the duck egg is not at all strong in its flavour. Keen all water in the shade, especially for the ducklings, as nothing puts them on their backs quicker tian a drink of water and a hot sun. Always keep' plenty of grit before them, also give plenty of green stuff in the mash. A little high-grade cod liver oil added to mash intended for ducklings is a decided improvement. Ducks are .easily frightened. so it behoves breeders to see that dogs are not allowed to dash about near their quarters, as this will lead to a great drop in the egg yield, besides distressing the birds unnecessarily. Shade is an absolute necessity, heavy mortality being caused by sunstroke.

1 2 Weekly to 3 total date H. Moreland. W.L. ... 5 r> 5 15 307 G; L. Gaylard. W.L. . 1 6 6 13 219 JI. Loveridge, W.L. ■., 6 6 <1 18 251 Gibbons Bros., W.L. . Mrs. R. R. Cannon, 4 6 5 15 244 W.L 6 5 5 16 291 A. J. Cadman, W.L. .. 6 5 n 16 332 A. V. Hopkins, W.L. . 0 0 6 ■6 198 Miss D. Swadllng, M. i) 5 4 12 140 Heavy Breeds—Black Orpingtons. 311 Mrs. S. Paterson 6 5 4 15 Mrs. F. A. Warren ... 5 6 5 16 312 H. W. Smith 6 7 4 17 322 Larsen Bros 6 5 6 17 322 Mrs. D. M. Waddell,. 6 7 5 18 411